Protective stepfather Alex Reid

Alex Reid feels ''very protective'' of Katie Price's three children and praised his wife as an ''excellent'' mother

Alex Reid feels "very protective" of Katie Price's children.

The cage-fighter - who wed the glamour model Katie Price in a quickie Las Vegas wedding ceremony in February - was furious to hear that her two-year-old daughter Princess Tiaamii, was covered in bruises and a black eye when she arrived at her father Peter Andre's home.

Alex said: "Princess left out care in perfect, happy health, so we were extremely concerned to be told she had bruises and two black eyes. As anyone in their right mind would do, I immediately contacted the police. Although the kids are not of my blood, I love and adore them and am very protective - and that goes doubly for Kate who is an excellent mum."

Peter had asked his legal team to contact Katie - who also has four-year-old son Junior with the singer and seven-year-old Harvey from her relationship with soccer star Dwight Yorke - after he noticed the marks on his daughter's skin.

At the time, reports suggested that the matter was a misunderstanding and that Princess was merely covered in smudged mascara.

However, Peter later denied that explanation, writing in his column for New! magazine: "Princess arrived at my house with some bruises on her face and body a couple of weeks ago, and I contacted my lawyers so they could find out from Kate what had happened. I wasn't accusing Kate of anything at all but as her father I just wanted to find out if there was anything I should know."

Alex has since defended Katie's parenting skills, and confirmed that there were definitely no worrying bruises on the child.

He added in his column for Star magazine: "After examining Princess, the police sergeant told us there was no bruising on Princess that a two year old wouldn't have from simply being a toddler, and she definitely didn't have a black eyes."